Monday, August 01, 2016

STATE
CAPITOL, PHOENIX –
Rep. Albert Hale, D-St. Michaels (District 7), and former United States
Attorney Troy Eid released these statements after the U.S.
Justice Department announced it will further investigate the fatal
officer-involved shooting of Loreal Tsingine, a 27-year-old Navajo woman.
Recently, Maricopa County prosecutors decided not to file charges against the Winslow
police officer.

Hale
said:

“While
I am grateful to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for their work on the
initial investigation into this incident, I joined Navajo Nation community
leaders in calling for an outside investigation. Former U.S. Attorney Eid and I
called for an independent investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice when
this tragic event first came to light. I am pleased that the Department of
Justice has agreed to review this matter. It is a welcome next step and
necessary in finding the answers to lingering questions that are persisting in
our community.

“Ultimately,
Winslow police officers and Navajo Nation police officers in Winslow should be
cross-deputized to provide better awareness of Native people and nations. It is
my understanding that the U.S. Department of Justice and the Navajo Nation
Department of Justice already have an agreement in place to provide this kind
of training. This should begin immediately. We must focus on solutions that
prevent violence and bring our communities together.”

Eid
added the following:

“As
Rep. Hale and I said back in April, a federal civil rights investigation by the
Justice Department is warranted, given this tragedy. This is also an
opportunity to strengthen how the Winslow Police Department serves the needs of
all its citizens, including the Dine’ and other Native Americans.”

Rep. Hale isan
enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. He was born in Ganado and raised in
Klagetoh, Arizona. He is Ashiihi (Salt), born for Todichiini (Bitter Water).
His maternal grandparents are Hanaghani (Walk About clan). His paternal
grandparents are Kiyanii (Tall House clan). He is a 1969 graduate of Fort
Wingate High School, a Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school located east of
Gallup, New Mexico. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State
University, Tempe, Arizona (1973), and a Juris Doctor degree from the
University of New Mexico School of Law, Albuquerque, New Mexico (1977),and an honorary Juris Doctor degree
from Phoenix School of Law (2012). He is the former President of the
Navajo Nation.